1970-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-031

Description

An exceptional dual-variety die, WDDO-031 on the 1970-S Proof Large Date Lincoln Memorial cent is paired with a reverse that also carries a doubled die designation — WDDR-002 — making specimens of this coin simultaneously attributable as both a doubled die obverse and a doubled die reverse. Dual-variety coins where both the obverse and reverse dies carry independent hub doubling are uncommon in any series, and their occurrence on a Proof issue adds another dimension of desirability. The obverse doubling manifests as close spread directed toward the center of the coin, visible on the date, LIBERTY, and IN GOD WE TRUST — a spread pattern consistent with the hub being positioned slightly further from center during one hubbing impression, causing design elements to receive a secondary image displaced inward. A die scratch on Lincoln's nose provides an obverse die marker independent of the doubling itself, serving as a quick screening feature for cherry-pickers. The reverse doubled die (WDDR-002) carries its own set of hub doubling characteristics, meaning the collector who locates this variety acquires two catalog entries — one obverse, one reverse — in a single coin. San Francisco's Proof production process, with its polished planchets and multiple-strike procedure, preserves the doubling on both surfaces with exceptional clarity. For collectors building comprehensive doubled die sets, the dual nature of this coin makes it a particularly efficient acquisition: it simultaneously advances both the WDDO and WDDR collections, and the Proof surface quality ensures that the hub doubling evidence on both sides is preserved at the highest fidelity the Mint's process could produce.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1970-S 1¢ Pr WDDO-031
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References